宛
address, just like, fortunately
Readings
On'yomi
- エン
Kun'yomi
- あ.てる
- -あて
- -づつ
- あたか.も
Meaning
宛 centers on directing something toward a specific target: writing an address, treating something as if it were something else (just like), or a situation turning out favorably as if by design (fortunately).
Most common words using 宛
- 宛てるあてるN1
to address
- 宛先あてさきN3
address; destination
- 宛名あてなN3
name and address (on an envelope, etc.); (addressee's) name; addressee
- 宛がうあてがう
to allot; to assign; to allocate
- 名宛なあて
address (on an envelope)
- 名宛人なあてにん
addressee
- 宛いあてがい
allotment; arrangement
- 宛先アドレスあてさきアドレス
destination address
- 宛名書きあてながき
addressing (e.g. writing an address on an envelope)
- 宛所あてどころ
address (of a letter, parcel, etc.); destination
- 宛書あてがき
addressee's name and address; mailing address
- 宛然えんぜん
as if; the very thing itself
- 宛転えんてん
eloquent; fluent; smooth-spoken; sonorous; facile; silver-tongued
- 手紙を宛てるてがみをあてる
to address (direct) a letter to a person
- 私宛わたしあて
addressed to me; for me
Study
Etymology
宛 combines 宀 (roof/building) with 夗, which likely contributes the sound and carries a sense of bending or curling. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character came to express directing or addressing.
Meaning mnemonic
Under a roof 宀, a curled figure 夗 is bent over a desk, carefully writing an address on a letter. The scene feels directed and purposeful, as if everything is falling into place just right.
Reading mnemonic
For エン, picture addressing an envelope under the roof: envelope -> エン, and you write the address neatly on it.